Creativity and Innovation Module: Mowing Machine Design Project

This project focuses on designing an innovative mowing machine, addressing the common issue of user effort and inconvenience in lawn care. The assignment utilizes TRIZ principles to generate creative solutions, including anti-weight, cushioning, spheroidality, dynamic parts, and a discard-and-recover approach to improve usability and efficiency. The project analyzes the practical application of these principles, considering factors like landscape variability and user experience, drawing on research to support design choices. The conclusion summarizes the design choices and their justifications, providing a comprehensive approach to innovative product design in the context of lawn care.

Running head: CREATIVITY AND INNOVATION
Assignment 2
CREATIVITY AND INNOVATION
Name of the Student:
Name of the University:
Author Note:

CREATIVITY AND INNOVATION 1
Table of Contents
Introduction:...............................................................................................................................2
Task 1:........................................................................................................................................2
Selection of 5 principles:........................................................................................................2
Task 2:........................................................................................................................................3
Conclusion:................................................................................................................................4
Reference list:.............................................................................................................................5

CREATIVITY AND INNOVATION 2
Introduction:
The aim of this assignment is to come up with an innovative idea for mowing the
lawn. It is a common observation that people do not actually enjoy mowing the lawn and it
remains overdue for a longer time (Ishii et al., 2018). The idea is to generate some idea that
would help in reducing the burden of mowing the lawn.
Task 1:
The major issues that the people face related to mowing the lawn have been found to
be the extra effort that the person has to make in order to mow the lawn. The mowing
machines are usually very big and it requires too much strength to operate one. Moving the
huge machine from one corner of the garden to the other is really tiring. People usually prefer
mowing on their off-days but owing to the intense effort that they have to make in order to
mow the lawn, the idea of mowing only gets postponed. Thus, the idea to overcome this issue
is to reduce the heavy weight of the machine and also to bring some flexibility in the machine
so that it can be handled easily. In order to achieve this, the machine might not be durable
and that the machines could be used twice or thrice to mow the lawn.
Selection of 5 principles:
1. Anti-weight: The machine will not have too many parts and will have only necessary
blades to cut the grass.
2. Beforehand cushioning: In order to make the machine easy to operate, a cushioning
technique can be used.
3. Spheroidality- Curvature: The shape has to be inclined so that the machine can be
used even to mow the lawn from the various corners.
4. Dynamic: The parts can be flexible as well and the user can easily change the parts
according to the need of the mowing the lawn.

CREATIVITY AND INNOVATION 3
5. Discarding and recovering: As already mentioned, the durability cannot be guaranteed
and thus, the machine can be discarded after using, depending on the usability.
Task 2:
Reading Hong et al., (2018) it has been found that disposable or less durable products
also add much value to the consumers in terms of its convenience as these products are
usually cheap, smaller in size and most importantly are purposive. These products can be
easily thrown away or discarded when they are utilised. The 5 particular principles that have
been selected for the designing of the product can be easily considered for the purpose of
designing a new mowing machine. For instance, the anti-weight machine will help people to
carry the machine easily and that people will no longer struggle with handling the machine
(Ishii et al., 2018). The cushioning of the machine shall also serve similar purpose and would
help the user to carry and use the machine easily. Considering the fact that the landscape of a
lawn or garden can be undulating at any point, it is important that the machine could be able
to reach out any corner and can help in mowing most effectively. As commented by
Anderson, Potočnik and Zhou, (2014), any innovative or creative product can be successful
only when the product is able to overcome the issues faced by the user. Also, the mower
needs to be helpful in cutting different length of grasses and so the flexible parts have been
another recommended solution to make the mowing experience better, and thus dynamic. At
last, the option of discarding the machine after using it for twice and thrice and then order the
next one only when needed is the best and most recommended option for an innovative
mowing machine.
Other inventive principles have not been selected as those are mainly related products
that require more technological and digital use. In addition to this, application of other
principles like Universality or Nested doll might make the machine more complex to use.

CREATIVITY AND INNOVATION 4
Conclusion:
The detailed analysis on the innovative and creative means of mowing the law has
been discussed considering the TRIZ principles of innovation. The justification of using the
particular principles has been highlighted along with the rejection or not using the other
principles.

CREATIVITY AND INNOVATION 5
Reference list:
Anderson, N., Potočnik, K. & Zhou, J., (2014). Innovation and creativity in organizations: A
state-of-the-science review, prospective commentary, and guiding
framework. Journal of Management, 40(5), pp.1297-1333.
Hong, J., Hou, B., Zhu, K., & Marinova, D. (2018). Exploratory innovation, exploitative
innovation and employee creativity: The moderation of collectivism in Chinese
context. Chinese Management Studies.
Ishii, Y., Iki, Y., Inoue, K., Nagata, S., Idota, S., Yokota, M., & Nishiwaki, A. (2016).
Adaptability of Napiergrass (Pennisetum purpureum Schumach.) for Weed Control in
Site of Animals Buried after Foot-and-Mouth Disease Infection. Scientifica, 2016.
Triz-journal.com (2018) 40 Inventive Principles. Retrieved from: https://triz-journal.com/40-
inventive-principles-examples/ [Accessed on: 6-5-2018]